Orbital ATK contracted for testing of drone missile targets

Orbital has been contracted by the U.S. Navy for support of the GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target, pictured during a test launch in 2004. Photo by U.S. Navy/Orbital ATK

Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Orbital ATK has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for development, testing and evaluation of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Ground Launch Drone Missile, or GQM-163A.

The contract, announced Wednesday by the Department of Defense, is valued at $79.4 million under a cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract for operation and maintenance support services on the missile.

Orbital will provide the Navy with developmental testing and evaluation of the supersonic sea skimming target, including tests for foreign military sales customers.

Work on the contract will be performed in Point Mugu and San Nicholas Island, Calif., Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, and Wallops Island, Va., and is expected to be complete in February 2023.

Orbital has been obligated $300,000 at the time of the award from the Navy's fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds. None of the obligated funds will expire at the end of fiscal year 2018.